Every Waking Moment.
"This is what I was looking for!" Spark announces as the others join her near the small firing range. She scans her light over a tall, high tech locker, built into the dark wall. "I noticed a compartment like this one when we visited the range in the other facility. Although, when I inspected it, I found no evidence of any contents." She turns to face the pair. "This one however, is giving off high signatures of Arc energy!"
"Arc? Not Void?" Klutz asks.
"Yes, Arc. I guess we won't find a black hole gun in here, but the jury is still out on finding something better!"
Klutz pulls out the Spider's badge and holds it up to the locker. It pops open with a squeak and a hiss as the door slides to the side. Lights turn on inside to illuminate the contents. In the center stands a compact and meticulously designed bow with wide metal limbs connected to curved devices that attach to the string wheel, the body is a light blue shade. A long spool of string hangs next to the bow. It appears to be made of some kind of insulated metal.
"A bow, huh?" Klutz says while admiring the wonder of engineering. "Right up your alley, Marin."
"Never seen a bow like this before…" Marin opens a compartment below the weapon. "Just look at these things!" She grabs hold of a strange arrow and shows it off. The arrow is wide, seemingly made of three combined shafts, each with their own sharp tip. "Three for the price of one?" she jokes. "You said this is an energy weapon?"
Spark begins scanning the weapon. "It's not an energy weapon in the strictest sense. It appears as if it amplifies its projectiles with Arc energy for added power!"
"Saying it'll shock whoever it sticks?" Marin asks as she thumbs over the arrow in her hand.
"With the kind of power this weapon is capable of, I think it will do a LOT more than just shock who it hits!"
Marin grabs the bow out from the locker and gets a feel for it. "I use a recurve for hunting, but I had a compound bow sorta like this a few years back. Fancy piece of City gear that served me well for a good while." She grabs the string from the locker and begins fitting it to the bow. "I could nail a Dreg between the eyes at a hundred yards." She tightens the string and gives it a tug. "Ended up having to trade it for some supplies. Miss the sound it'd make when I let the string go…" She holds the bow up and admires it for a time. The corner of her lip curls up. She presents the bow to the Guardian.
Klutz is a little surprised by the offer. "Want me to take it?"
"No shit. If someone has to deal with the bugs, it's gonna be you. I ain't in any shape to fight… and you're the Guardian after all…" A subtle sadness follows her words.
Klutz takes the bow from her and flicks out the digital sights mounted on its side. "Thanks, Marin. Gotta be honest with you though, I don't really know how to shoot a bow."
The archer looks at him with a puzzled face. "Did your Ghost have to teach you how to shoot a gun when she found your dusty bones?"
"No, that just came to me naturally. It was like I already knew how to handle a gun somehow… This thing though, I'm clueless."
Marin purses her lips and then smiles. "Good thing we've got a range right here."
Klutz stands just as his instructor told him. He nocks the strange arrow and pulls back on the string. He feels her press up behind him and correct his form by straightening his elbow.
"That's right, bring it all the way to your chin. Now just look through the sight at what you wanna hit. When you're ready, I want you to relax your fingers and let the string just slip right out." Marin eyes the target down the range and makes a small adjustment to the Guardian's outstretched arm. She steps back and gives him a gentle pat on the ribs.
A breath escapes his lips and he lets the string escape just as smoothly. The arrow flies straight and true toward the target in the center of the range, but to everyone's surprise, it splits into three separate shafts mid-flight. The center arrow finds its target with decent accuracy, but the other two hit wide on either side.
"Ain't that quirky!" Marin says through a laugh. "Not sure what the Golden Age eggheads were thinking when they came up with this one. I mean, what are the odds you'll find three targets just far enough apart for each of the arrows to hit?"
Klutz looks down range to inspect his shot. "Yeah, seems a little strange… I was pretty awesome though. Right on target, huh?"
"Yeah, yeah. You're a regular Artemis," she says with a sarcastic clap.
"A regular what?"
"Artemis. She was some ancient archery goddess I read about. Blessed hunters with good luck and provided her followers with bountiful harvests," she explains enthusiastically.
Klutz looks at her with a skeptical but amused face.
"I'm saying it was a good shot, you dolt." Marin shakes her head. "Hey, Ghost. You said this thing could charge the arrows with energy?"
"Oh, yes!" Spark answers. "It needs to build up a charge first, but I believe Klutz could jump start it with a little Arc Light."
The Guardian looks at the Ghost with wide concerned eyes.
Marin notices his troubled expression. "Something wrong?"
Spark sinks down a little and looks at the man apologetically. "Oh, sorry. I forgot you have been struggling with Arc."
Klutz sighs. "Just need practice is all… You've seen what I can do with Solar Light now."
"Yes! It's very impressive! You don't need to put much Arc energy into this weapon. Just a little jolt and it should handle the rest." Spark nods supportively. "I know you can do that!"
Marin looks on with curiosity.
"Alright…" Klutz holds the bow up with one hand and directs the fingers on his other into a pointed, open grasp. He focuses and breathes rhythmically. Tiny arcs of plasma jump between his fingertips and grow in regularity. Soon the arcs are connecting and crackling with noise. Hopeful he has built up enough of a charge, Klutz flexes his fingers and directs the electricity into the weapon.
The limbs of the bow feast on the power and begin to vibrate and sputter energy throughout the intricate components.
"Heh, kinda tickles," Klutz says as he watches the bow surge with life.
Marin eyes the weapon and the man holding it with amazement. "I love this stuff. Even little miracles like this just blow me away…"
"Hold on, Rin. We haven't even seen what this thing can do yet." Klutz grabs another arrow.
"Not talking about the bow, dummy! You just made lightning shoot from your fingers! That's crazy! I've seen you use some of that space-magic before, but somehow it's still amazing to me." Marin stares at the Guardian with wishful eyes.
"The effect ain't lost on me either. I'm still learning what this gift means… What it means to be a Guardian."
The room grows quite for a time before Marin gets them back on track. "Better test this thing out before we all die of old age… Or, well… Guess that doesn't really apply to y'all."
Klutz aims down range, just as before, and pulls the sparking string back far. He feels Marin move close to correct his position, but she moves away after a quick look. He breathes in sharply and lets the arrows loose with his exhale. The trio of arrows fly down the range, licking the walls with arcs of power. When they land on target, they link together with great bright bolts of lightning, exploding in a burst of incredible Arc energy. The lightning crawls across the walls for a brief moment before dying out.
"Holy shit!" Marin exclaims. "That was nuts!"
Spark stretches her shell wide and bops about with glee. "My energy readings on that are unbelievable! Close to a billion volts in one shot! This thing is VERYdangerous!"
Klutz looks at the discharged bow with amazement. "Wasn't expecting that." He turns to the woman and holds out the bow. "Want to try it out? I can charge it back up." He notices a strange, warm look in her eyes.
Marin rushes him, but ignores the bow. Instead she holds him in an excited hug and plants a quick kiss on his cheek.
"Wasn't expecting this either." He places the bow on the counter and reciprocates the embrace.
Spark observes them for a moment and slowly tilts to the side before dematerializing.
They embrace for a few peaceful heartbeats before Marin lets out a muffled, pained grunt.
Klutz backs away and sees her move a hand down to her sutured side. "I'm sorry…" He helps her down as she sits on the floor with her back against the wall.
"Eh, don't be sorry. My fault I ended up this way…" She closes her eyes.
"That's not true. I should have protected you. I should have kept you safe…"
Marin opens her eyes and looks at the man's guilt ridden face. "See, that's the problem. I think the same way."
Klutz raises an eyebrow.
"I've always been so focused on looking out for folks, trying to keep them safe and fed. Always worried about myself last."
"Just means your heart is in the right place."
"I don't have a Ghost like you. I don't have the Light. One bad mistake and it won't matter what place my heart's in…" She pulls the bullet casing from her pocket and rolls it around her fingers. "What's it like to die?"
The man's mouth drops open at the question.
"I saw you fade away out there… I've seen people die before, but I've never seen anyone come back. I know that wasn't the first time you passed on, you have to die to become a Lightbearer. So what's it like?"
"I, uh… I don't remember the first time." Klutz looks away from the woman. "It must have happened a long time ago, because when Spark found me, I was just a pile of bones in some ruined clothes…"
"But you remember the times after that? Does it scare you?"
"I fell soon after I rose. I was scared when it was happening, but when it all started to go dark… it was comforting. It was cold and dark, but comforting. Like finally going to sleep after a long day."
Marin holds the casing tightly.
"But that was only the first time. Hasn't been nearly as comforting since."
"Because you know Spark will bring you back?"
"That's part of it." He turns back to look at the woman. "Mostly it's because I know I've still got something to live for."
Marin looks touched, but her expression shifts and her eyes go a little glassy. "…When I was a girl, I watched my mother die…"
Klutz is shaken by the words, but not surprised.
"I was maybe eight or nine, honestly I couldn't tell you how old I am now. My mother took me with her on a caravan of pilgrims and refugees headed to the Last City. Never knew dad, mom told me he was a fisherman that died at sea. She wanted to give me a better chance. We traveled for days and days, I remember being hungry all the time. The group had stopped to rest a few hours before sundown, so I took the opportunity to explore. Mom told me not to stray too far, but I've always been a bad listener." Marin rubs her hand above her injury. "I was playing in the woods nearby when I heard the commotion… The Fallen dropped in on us fast. I ran back to look for her, but I stopped scared when I saw them. They were just killing everyone. Didn't matter if they were young or old, didn't matter if they were fleeing or fighting, it was all the same to those sons of bitches. I was so scared that my legs turned to mush. Then I saw her. She was screaming my name and running toward me with her splintered bow in one hand. I yelled back, but she didn't hear me. One of the big ones chased her down and pushed her into the dirt. She swung at it with the bow and it snapped in half against its leg. Then the bastard laughed. It laughed as it ripped out her arms and squished her under its foot. I was so scared… then I was angry." She drys one of her eyes with a white knuckle.
"I'm so sorry, Marin. I… I can't imagine…" Klutz sees the pain she is reliving. "How did you get away?"
"Didn't try to get away. Not at first." The woman explains. "I charged at that monster as if all fifty pounds of me was gonna barrel right over a Fallen Captain. Then someone grabbed me, someone I'd never seen before. He was a tall man wearing a long brown cloak. He grabbed my arm tight with his cold glove and pulled me away. He crouched down, looked at me, and told me to stay put. I saw my angry face reflected in his visor and tried to fight him off. He pushed me on my ass like I was made of paper. When I sat up, I saw him work. He rolled toward the Captain and flung a knife at it so fast I could barely see it! He drew his revolver and fanned off a bunch of shots right into its gut. The Captain fell forward and he pulled the knife out of its skull before it hit the dirt. I was stunned. I'd never seen someone move so fast." A dull smile crosses her face, but does not last long. "I saw him look at what was left of mom and then back at me. He picked up her broken bow and crouched down to meet me again. I'll never forget what he said to me. 'Your mama did her best to look after you.' He gave me her bow. Then he said, 'Now you gotta look after yourself,' and handed me his revolver." Marin grabs the old hand cannon from her bag and holds it up. "I asked him why he was helping me and how he was going to fight without his gun? Then a big group of Dregs swooped in and started blasting. He held me close and put himself in the way of the shots. I thought he would drop after taking so many hits. Instead he spun around and threw out two handfuls of burning knives that blew the Fallen to bits. He stood tall with fire glowing all through him and said one last thing to me, 'When you grow strong like me, you look out for folk that can't look out for themselves.' A whole lotta Fallen started to swarm and he shouted for me to leave, so I ran back into the woods."
"The man was a Guardian?" Klutz asks.
"He was definitely my guardian at the time. I'd never seen a Lightbearer before, think I'd heard stories, but seeing him in action was something else…" Marin eyes over the hand cannon and speaks with pain in her voice. "I ran until my legs were weak. Then I limped." She holds the gun up by the butt. "I held the broken limbs of mom's bow close to my chest and practically dragged the revolver. It felt so heavy. Eventually the sun started to set and I couldn't hear any more fighting, so I settled down on an old log… and I cried." A tear drops down her cheek before she wipes it away. "I cried for a good while, until I saw something in the darkness, something headed towards me, something with a glow in its eyes. I dropped the broken bow and pointed this big ol' gun with all my strength. It stepped closer, so I closed my eyes and pulled the trigger. Thing kicked so hard I fell flat on my ass. Didn't hit anywhere near my target, although that's a good thing, because after I tried to put a hole in him, he called out and made it clear he wasn't gonna hurt me. I sat up and got a better look at him. He was a normal looking man, aside from the blue skin and soft amber glow in his eyes… He introduced himself, 'Hello, young one. My name is Eyran. Are you lost?' All calm and understanding. As if I didn't just try and put a bullet in him."
"I'm guessing he took you back here to the village?" Klutz shows a wholesome expression.
"Yeah, he brought me back, fed me, and cleaned me up. Eyran has looked out for me for years. Always treated me like I was his own." Marin lets out a laugh. "Didn't stop us from butting heads though. I was always so angry growing up. I wanted to be more than I was. No matter how much I practiced, or pushed myself, I was still too slow, too weak." She looks down at the stitches in her side. "Too powerless." She shakes her head subtly. "I've been pretty jealous of you since the day we met... I always wanted to be a Guardian."
Once again, Klutz is caught off guard. "You don't need the Light to help people. I've seen you do so much for this village, Rin. Seen you provide for them, keep them safe. You've done much more for people than I have."
"Never felt like enough," she says and hangs her head for a moment. "I was really on the edge when I was just becoming a woman, had all this doubt and pain in me. Eventually I ran off with this militia group that hunted down small packs of Fallen. I even killed a Captain all on my own. Did that for a few months, but I still felt like I wasn't good enough. Eventually I spent some time in the City, learned more about Guardians, learned how they did the things they did… and where they came from. I wanted to be like them so bad. I wanted to be strong, wanted to look out for people that couldn't look out for themselves. One night I decided it was time. I knew how people became Guardians and I thought I'd take the chance. I had so much hurt in me that it felt like I had no other option." She squeezes the gun tightly. "I put the barrel in my mouth and closed my eyes."
The man scoots closer and puts his arm over the woman's shoulders.
Marin leans into the man. "I was at my lowest then, but I didn't go through with it. I'm not in that low place so much these days, but the thought is always at the back of my mind. This itch, calling me to the void, this chance that I could leave my pain behind and come back as something more. I know it's dumb. I've seen a lot of folks die before, but none of them ever got picked by a Ghost. I ended up coming home and saw that I broke poor Eyran's heart. He must have thought I died the day I left. He hugged me so tight I thought he'd never let go. Been trying to look out for everyone here ever since, help them as best I can. But I always made sure to save one last round for this thing." She holds the casing up to the light. "Somehow it settled my mind, knowing I had the option." She tosses the empty casing over the counter and into the range. Then she takes a long look at the empty gun in her hand before she puts it away.
"You're strong, Rin." He twists his body to look her in her teary eyes. "I look up to you, and sometimes, I feel like you do. Like I'm not enough. Things often get overwhelming and I don't know what to do. Spark keeps me steady, but when I'm really lost… I think of you."
She smiles with a genuine warmth and holds on to the man's hand.
"You keep me going, give me purpose. You set an example that I want to meet." He moves closer. "My life's been short so far, but I know it could be long… very long. I don't know what will happen to me in all that time… but I'm happy I'm spending right now with you."
Marin stares at the man's face, mear inches from her own. She sees the longing in his eyes, feels the warmth of his breath. Her eyes return a similar longing. She feels heard, understood. She feels like, for once, she is enough. She closes the gap and their lips meet. The couple share more than just passion or need in their embrace.
They share trust and acceptance.